[April 17^th] [Recd Saturday afternoon, 17 Apr] Sir "I have recd — I [undecipherable] your note of this date [at] my returns to my office. I shall with pleasure endeavor to assist you in your pursuits. But as they be more [undecipherable] to you [undecipherable: your desire?] [undecipherable: explicitly?] to the [President?] — or the Secretary of State, or both, it is my opinion that you had better do it in writing — [undecipherable: a letter is a fair?] [Those are the more enduring?] [undecipherable] or not [undecipherable: intended?] With respect to M^r. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it is only more earnest [undecipherable] to bring all [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to as [undecipherable: speedy?] a conclusion as [the?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] belonging to who [found?] [undecipherable] sold [his?] [year's?] [the?] proceeds [to be?] divided among the Creditors [I am?] [your?] [obedient?] [your?] [humble?] [servant?] M^r. Sylvanus Bourne — [docket notation, rotated: April 1790 / Sylvanus Bourne]